The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll (a small town north of the country's capital, then called Christiania), then signed and dated May 17. It was considered one of the most radically democratic constitutions in the world at the time, and is today the oldest constitution in Europe - the second oldest in the world - still in force. May 17 is now the National Day of Norway.

It should be noted that several Articles exist no longer. These are §10 (abolished 1988), §15 (abolished 1905), §33 (abolished 1908), §38 (abolished 1908), §42 (abolished 1905), §52 (abolished 1954), §56 (abolished 1972), §70 (abolished 1990), §72 (abolished 1990), §82 (abolished 1913) and §89 (abolished 1920). Empty spaces have been left in their place. Also, some Articles have been abolished only to have their place filled by an entirely different Article. Examples include §14. Several Articles also have subsections. For example, §74 have the subsections from a through m.

History

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Writing the constitution

Following the defeat of Napoleons troops at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813 and the Treaty of Kiel of January 1814, the Crown Prince of Denmark-Norway, Christian Frederik, the resident vice-roy in Norway, founded a Norwegian independence movement. The most likely goal of the young Crown Prince was ultimate re-unification with Denmark. His initiative was successful, and a national assembly at Eidsvoll was called. The assembled representatives were elected by the congregations of the state church throughout Norway, and by military units. They convened at the Eidsvoll manor on April 10. During five weeks of the spring of 1814, the constitution was written. The constitution was ratified by the assembly on May 16, and signed the following day, the latter date now celebrated as the Norwegian Constitution Day.

A deviation from the republican constitutions of France and the USA was the retention of monarchy. Importing republicanism was seen as trying to emulate the French and Americans directly, something the lawmakers at Eidsvoll sought to avoid. The choice of monarchy as state form would also facilitate reunification of Denmark-Norway, something the Crown Prince was not alone in seeking. The king's power was however severely curtailed. His absolute veto over laws was removed. The council of Eidsvoll not surprisingly chose Crown Prince Christian Frederik as king. He was thus chosen, and as such a king by the will of the people rather than by the grace of God. In a Europe where almost all countries were ruled by absolute monarchy, this was seen as extremely radical. The right to vote was extended to all men who were either farmers possessing their own land, civil servants, or urban property owners. With this, about half of all Norwegian men earned the right to vote.

The union with Sweden

The young king and Norwegian officials tried to find international backing for their bid for Norway as a sovereign state throughout spring and early summer of 1814. After failing to secure the support of Great Britain, war with Sweden became unavoidable. The Swedish Campaign against Norway was short and decisive. However, while badly trained and equipped, the Norwegian Army put up a determined fight, holding the Swedes back at Kongsvinger and securing a tactical victory at the battle of Langnes. This enabled the King to avoid an unconditional surrender as he was forced into negotiations with the Swedes, leading to the Convention of Moss.

Putting the strategic situation and his own abdication to good use, he persuaded the Swedish crown prince Carl Johan (the former Marshal Bernadotte of France) to let the Norwegians keep their constitution. The Swedish crown prince wanted to appease the Norwegians and avoid a bloody continuation of the war. Realizing that a forced union with himself as ruler of a conquered and hostile country would be very uneasy, he accepted the Norwegian proposition. Norway then entered into a personal union with Sweden with only such amendments to its constitution as were necessary to form the Union between Sweden and Norway. On October 7, an extraordinary session of the Storting convened, and king Christian Frederik delegated his powers to the parliament and abdicated on October 10. The Storting adopted the constitutional amendments on November 4 and on the same day unanimously electedCharles XIII king of Norway, rather than acknowledging him as such, thus reinforcing the concept a King by the will of the people.

Dissolution and the second King

The union amendments were revoked after the dissolution of the ninety-one-year-old union in 1905. The question of a King was again considered, and the Storting elected to offer the throne to the 33-year-old Prince Carl of Denmark, married to Maud of Wales, the daughter of King Edward VII. By bringing in a king with British royal ties, it was hoped that Norway could court Britain's support. Prince Carl was however well aware of a surge of republicanism in Norway and of the constitutional situation of the Norwegian throne. He insisted that he would accept the crown only if the Norwegian people expressed their will for monarchy by referendum and if the parliament then elected him king. On November 13, the Norwegian votes decided on monarchy with a 74 percent majority, and Carl was elected King by the Storting, taking the name Haakon VII of Norway.

Several other amendments have been adopted since 1814, the most recent on February 20, 2006. After World War II and the restoration of peace and constitutional rule, there was much debate on how to handle the events of the previous five years. None of this led to any changes in the constitution; it had withstood the test of hard times.

Development

While radical in its day, the constitution of 1814 was a product of its age. As Norwegian democracy developed, some parts of it began to look increasingly dated. For example, the executive power, which in the constitution is consistently attributed to the King, came increasingly to rest in his Council of State (statsråd). Similarly, the King originally had the right to appoint members of the Council, who were answerable to him alone, and they could not be chosen from the members of the Parliament of Norway. With the establishment of parliamentarism in 1884, the Council was effectively chosen by general election, in that the King appointed only members of the party or coalition having a majority in the Storting. Further, the Council became answerable to the Storting, in the sense that a failed vote of confidence would cause the government to resign. This last happened in March 2000, when the governing coalition felt unable to accept the introduction of natural gas power stations (considering it dangerous to the environment), which a majority of the Storting supported.

In addition to these changes in practice, there have been many amendments and changes to the actual text. A relic from the earlier laws of Denmark-Norway, Paragraph 2 originally read, "The Evangelical-Lutheran religion remains the public religion of the State. Those inhabitants, who confess thereto, are bound to raise their children to the same. Jesuits and monastic orders are not permitted. Jews are still prohibited from entry to the Realm." In 1851 the last sentence was struck, and in 1897 also the next but last sentence. §12 in the constitution still states that more than half of the persons in the Council of State have to be members of the state church, a paragraph that has grown strongly controversial.[1][2][3] Universal malesuffrage was introduced in Norway in 1898 and universal suffrage in 1913 by amendments of the constitution.

Current trends

Eidsvollsbygningen, the site of the drafting of the constitution

From time to time proposals are made to separate the church from the state, which would imply an amendment of § 2 of the constitution. This has never been supported by a majority in the Storting but is constantly a matter of debate.

The Norwegian High Court of the Realm is warranted by the constitution and was frequently (mis)used by the Storting as a political tool to control the government during the 19th century, but no impeachments have been made since 1927. A parliamentary report and a proposition for constitutional amendment was presented in 2004 to change the legal basis of the High Court of the Realm and reduce its political bias ([2]). The proposal was passed by a unanimous Storting on February 20, 2007. The court will be composed of five regular Supreme Court of Norway judges and six lay judges appointed by the Storting, instead of the whole Supreme Court plus the Lagting (1/4 of the Storting).

Some constitutional scholars hold that it may be necessary to change the constitution if Norway is to enter the European Union. However, the debate on the EU has been relatively quiescent since the referendum in 1994, so such a change is not likely to occur for some years.

Language

The events and the constitution of 1814 have a central place in Norwegian identity. For this reason, and to keep the text as consistent as possible, changes are written in a language close to the original. In 1814 Danish was still the universal written language. The current two official varieties of written Norwegian language, Bokmål and Nynorsk (until 1929 called Riksmål and Landsmål respectively), were not developed until the late 19th century. In 1903 the constitution underwent a very slight linguistic revision, changing the spelling of some words where orthography had changed since 1814, but still retaining a conservative 19th century Danish.

All recent amendments have attempted to imitate the language of the 1903 version, leading to peculiar constructions. The word "environment" is written in the ancient spelling milieu, differing from modern Norwegian and Danish miljø; the modern context of that word was, however, non-existing in the 19th century. The "Sami ethnical group" is "den samiske Folkegruppe", even if the word Sami (samisk) was not common until the 1970s. In 1814 or 1903, the word Lappish (lappisk) would have been used, but this is today considered to be a derogatory term.

Since amendments are elaborated by politicians not competent in 19th century Danish, several modern Norwegian spellings have sneaked into the constitution. Different approaches to revise the language throughout the document have been suggested:

Bring the language up to today's usage and orthography.

Use the 1903 standard, but correct various passages where newer amendments do not really conform to that standard.

Revert the language to the standard of 1814; an objection to this is that most modern Norwegians would find it even more difficult to read.

Update the language to one of the spelling reforms, either 1917, 1938, or 1959. This would still be fairly conservative language, but closer to today's speech.

A constitutional amendment of February 2, 2006 was aimed at reverting 16 minor spelling errors to the proper 1903 forms.

Though Norway is not the only country to have a constitution written in a foreign language, it is certainly the only state to compose new law material in an archaic language form, apart from the Vatican which uses Latin. Even the official name of the Kingdom of Norway (Norwegian: Kongeriket Norge/Kongeriket Noreg) would in fact be the Danish form Kongeriget Norge if taken literally from the constitution.

Rituals relating to the Constitution

Constitution Day

The 17th of May, the date of the signing of the constitution, is celebrated as Norwegian Constitution Day with the school children's flag parades. In the capital Oslo, the parade passes the Royal Palace where thousands of schoolchildren wave to the King and Queen. A notable feature of the Norwegian Constitution Day celebration is the virtual absence of any military parades, the day being almost wholly a civilian celebration.

From Wikisource

←Constitutional documents

The
Constitution of the Kingdom of Norwayby Government of
Norway

The Constitution of Norway, as laid down on 17 May 1814 by the
Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll (with subsequent amendments, the
most recent being of 20 February 2007. Some of these amendments
entered into force on 1 October 2009.

A. Form of government and
religion

The Kingdom of Norway is a free, independent, indivisible and
inalienable Realm. Its form of government is a limited and
hereditary monarchy.

Article 2

All inhabitants of the Realm shall have the right to free
exercise of their religion.

The Evangelical-Lutheran religion shall remain the official
religion of the State. The inhabitants professing it are bound to
bring up their children in the same.

B. The
Executive Power, the King and the Royal Family

Article 3

The Executive Power is vested in the King, or in the Queen if
she has succeeded to the Crown pursuant to the provisions of
Article 6 or Article 7 or Article 48 of this Constitution. When the
Executive Power is thus vested in the Queen, she has all the rights
and obligations which pursuant to this Constitution and the Law of
the Land are possessed by the King.

Article 4

The King shall at all times profess the Evangelical-Lutheran
religion, and uphold and protect the same.

Article 5

The King's person is sacred; he cannot be censured or accused.
The responsibility rests with his Council.

Article 6

The order of succession is lineal, so that only a child born in
lawful wedlock of the Queen or King, or of one who is herself or
himself entitled to the succession may succeed, and so that the
nearest line shall take precedence over the more remote and the
elder in the line over the younger.

An unborn child shall also be included among those entitled to
the succession and shall immediately take her or his proper place
in the line of succession as soon as she or he is born into the
world.

The right of succession shall not, however, belong to any
person who is not born in the direct line of descent from the last
reigning Queen or King or a sister or brother thereof, or is
herself or himself a sister or brother thereof.

When a Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of
Norway is born, her or his name and time of birth shall be notified
to the first Storting in session and be entered in the record of
its proceedings.

For those born before the year 1971, Article 6 of the
Constitution as it was passed on 18 November 1905 shall, however,
apply. For those born before the year 1990 it shall nevertheless be
the case that a male shall take precedence over a female.

Article 7

If there is no Princess or Prince entitled to the succession,
the King may propose his successor to the Storting, which has the
right to make the choice if the King's proposal is not
accepted.

Article 8

The age of majority of the King shall be laid down by law.

As soon as the King has attained the age prescribed by law, he
shall make a public declaration that he is of age.

Article 9

As soon as the King, being of age, accedes to the government,
he shall take the following oath before the Storting: "I promise
and swear that I will govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance
with its Constitution and Laws; so help me God, the Almighty and
Omniscient."

If the Storting is not in session at the time, the oath shall
be made in writing in the Council of State and be repeated solemnly
by the King at the first subsequent Storting.

Article 10

(Repealed)

Article 11

The King shall reside in the Realm and may not, without the
consent of the Storting, remain outside the Realm for more than six
months at a time, otherwise he shall have forfeited, for his
person, the right to the Crown.

The King may not accept any other crown or government without
the consent of the Storting, for which two thirds of the votes are
required.

Article 12

The King himself chooses a Council from among Norwegian
citizens who are entitled to vote. This Council shall consist of a
Prime Minister and at least seven other Members.

More than half the number of the Members of the Council of
State shall profess the official religion of the State.

The King apportions the business among the Members of the
Council of State, as he deems appropriate. Under extraordinary
circumstances,besides the ordinary Members of the Council of State,
the King may summon other Norwegian citizens, although no Members
of the Storting, to take a seat in the Council of State.

Husband and wife, parent and child or two siblings may never
sit at the same time in the Council of State.

Article 13

During his travels within the Realm, the King may delegate the
administration of the Realm to the Council of State. The Council of
State shall conduct the government in the King's name and on his
behalf. It shall scrupulously observe the provisions of this
Constitution, as well as such particular directives in conformity
therewith as the King may instruct.

The matters of business shall be decided by voting, where in
the event of the votes being equal, the Prime Minister, or in his
absence the highest-ranking Member of the Council of State who is
present, shall have two votes.

The Council of State shall make a report to the King on matters
of business which it thus decides.

Article 14

The King may appoint State Secretaries to assist Members of the
Council of State with their duties outside the Council of State.
Each State Secretary shall act on behalf of the Member of the
Council of State to whom he is attached to the extent determined by
that Member.

Article 15

Note: added in 2007

Any person who holds a seat in the Council of State has the
duty to submit his application to resign once the Storting has
passed a vote of no confidence against that Member of the Council
of State or against the Council of State as a whole.

The King is bound to grant such an application to resign.

Once the Storting has passed a vote of no confidence, only such
business may be conducted as is required for the proper discharge
of duties.

Article 16

The King ordains all public church services and public worship,
all meetings and assemblies dealing with religious matters, and
ensures that public teachers of religion follow the norms
prescribed for them.

Article 17

Note: amended in 2007, the amendment entered into force 1
October 2009

The King may issue and repeal ordinances relating to commerce,
customs, all livelihoods and the police, although these must not
conflict with the Constitution or with the laws passed by the
Storting (as hereinafter prescribed in Articles 76, 77, 78 and
79).

Article 18

As a general rule the King shall provide for the collection of
the taxes and duties imposed by the Storting.

Article 19

The King shall ensure that the properties and prerogatives of
the State are utilized and administered in the manner determined by
the Storting and in the best interests of the general public.

Article 20

Note: as amended in 2007

The King shall have the right in the Council of State to pardon
criminals after sentence has been passed. The criminal shall have
the choice of accepting the King's pardon or submitting to the
penalty imposed.

In proceedings which the Storting causes to be brought before
the Court of Impeachment, no pardon other than deliverance from the
death penalty may be granted, unless the Storting has given its
consent thereto.

Article 21

The King shall choose and appoint, after consultation with his
Council of State, all senior civil, ecclesiastical and military
officials. Before the appointment is made, such officials shall
swear or, if by law exempted from taking the oath, solemnly declare
obedience and allegiance to the Constitution and the King, although
senior officials who are not Norwegian nationals may by law be
exempted from this duty. The Royal Princes must not hold senior
civil offices.

Article 22

The Prime Minister and the other Members of the Council of
State, together with the State Secretaries, may be dismissed by the
King without any prior court judgment, after he has heard the
opinion of the Council of State on the subject. The same applies to
senior officials employed in government offices or in the
diplomatic or consular service, to the highest-ranking civil and
ecclesiastical officials, commanders of regiments and other
military formations, commandants of forts and officers commanding
warships. Whether pensions should be granted to senior officials
thus dismissed shall be determined by the next Storting. In the
interval they shall receive two thirds of their previous pay.

Other senior officials may only be suspended by the King, and
must then without delay be charged before the Courts, but they may
not, except by court judgment, be dismissed nor, against their
will, transferred.

All senior officials may, without a prior court judgment, be
discharged from office upon attaining the statutory age limit.

Article 23

The King may bestow orders upon whomever he pleases, as a
reward for distinguished services, and such orders must be publicly
announced, but no rank or title other than that attached to any
office. The order exempts no one from the common duties and burdens
of citizens, nor does it carry with it any preferential admission
to senior official posts in the State. Senior officials honourably
discharged from office retain the title and rank of their office.
This does not apply, however, to Members of the Council of State or
the State Secretaries.

No personal, or mixed, hereditary privileges may henceforth be
granted to anyone.

Article 24

The King chooses and dismisses, at his own discretion, his
Royal Household and Court Officials.

Article 25

The King is Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval forces of
the Realm. These forces may not be increased or reduced without the
consent of the Storting. They may not be transferred to the service
of foreign powers, nor may the military forces of any foreign
power, except auxiliary forces assisting against hostile attack, be
brought into the Realm without the consent of the Storting.

The territorial army and the other troops which cannot be
classed as troops of the line must never, without the consent of
the Storting, be employed outside the borders of the Realm.

Article 26

The King has the right to call up troops, to engage in
hostilities in defence of the Realm and to make peace, to conclude
and denounce conventions, to send and to receive diplomatic
envoys.

Treaties on matters of special importance, and, in all cases,
treaties whose implementation, according to the Constitution,
necessitates a new law or a decision by the Storting, are not
binding until the Storting has given its consent thereto.

Article 27

All Members of the Council of State shall, unless lawfully
absent, attend the Council of State and no decision may be adopted
there unless more than half the number of members are present.

A Member of the Council of State who does not profess the
official religion of the State shall not take part in proceedings
on matters which concern the State Church.

Article 28

Proposals regarding appointments to senior official posts and
other matters of importance shall be presented in the Council of
State by the Member under whose department they come, and such
matters shall be dealt with by him in accordance with the decision
adopted in the Council of State. However, matters strictly relating
to military command may, to the extent determined by the King, be
excepted from proceedings in the Council of State.

Article 29

If a Member of the Council of State is lawfully prevented from
attending the meeting and from p, if by law exempted from taking
the oath, solemnly declare obedience and allegiance to the
Constitution and the King, although senior officials who are not
Norwegian nationals may by law be exempted from this duty. The
Royal Princes must not hold senior civil offices.

If so many Members are lawfully prevented from attending that
not more than half of the stipulated number are present, the
requisite number of other men or women shall be temporarily
appointed to take a seat in the Council of State.

Article 30

Note: as amended in 2007

All the proceedings of the Council of State shall be entered in
its records. Diplomatic matters which the Council of State decides
to keep secret shall be entered in a special record. The same
applies to military command matters which the Council of State
decides to keep secret.

Everyone who has a seat in the Council of State has the duty
frankly to express his opinion, to which the King is bound to
listen. But it rests with the King to make a decision according to
his own judgment.

If any Member of the Council of State is of the opinion that
the King's decision conflicts with the form of government or the
laws of the Realm, it is his duty to make strong remonstrances
against it, as well as to enter his opinion in the records. A
Member who has not thus protested is deemed to have been in
agreement with the King, and shall be answerable in such manner as
may be subsequently decided, and may be impeached by the Storting
before the Court of Impeachment.

Article 31

All decisions drawn up by the King shall, in order to become
valid, be countersigned. The decisions relating to military command
are countersigned by the person who has presented the matter, while
other decisions are countersigned by the Prime Minister or, if he
has not been present, by the highest-ranking Member of the Council
of State present.

Article 32

The decisions adopted by the Government during the King's
absence shall be drawn up in the King's name and be signed by the
Council of State.

Article 33

(Repealed)

Article 34

The King shall make provisions concerning titles for those who
are entitled to succeed to the Crown.

Article 35

As soon as the heir to the Throne has completed her or his
eighteenth year, she or he is entitled to take a seat in the
Council of State, although without a vote or responsibility.

Article 36

A Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of Norway
may not marry without the consent of the King. Nor may she or he
accept any other crown or government without the consent of the
King and the Storting; for the consent of the Storting two thirds
of the votes are required.

If she or he acts contrary to this rule, they and their
descendants forfeit their right to the Throne of Norway.

Article 37

The Royal Princes and Princesses shall not personally be
answerable to anyone other than the King, or whomever he decrees to
sit in judgment on them.

Article 38

(Repealed)

Article 39

If the King dies and the heir to the Throne is still under age,
the Council of State shall immediately summon the Storting.

Article 40

Until the Storting has assembled and made provisions for the
government during the minority of the King, the Council of State
shall be responsible for the administration of the Realm in
accordance with the Constitution.

Article 41

If the King is absent from the Realm unless commanding in the
field, or if he is so ill that he cannot attend to the government,
the person next entitled to succeed to the Throne shall, provided
that he has attained the age stipulated for the King's majority,
conduct the government as the temporary executor of the Royal
Powers. If this is not the case, the Council of State will conduct
the administration of the Realm.

Article 42

(Repealed)

Article 43

The choice of trustees to conduct the government on behalf of
the King during his minority shall be undertaken by the
Storting.

Article 44

The Princess or Prince who, in the cases mentioned in Article
41, conducts the government shall make the following oath in
writing before the Storting: "I promise and swear that I will
conduct the government in accordance with the Constitution and the
Laws, so help me God, the Almighty and Omniscient".

If the Storting is not in session at the time, the oath shall
be made in the Council of State and later be presented to the next
Storting.

The Princess or Prince who has once made the oath shall not
repeat it later.

Article 45

As soon as their conduct of the government ceases, the trustees
shall submit to the King and the Storting an account of the
same.

Article 46

If the persons concerned fail to summon the Storting
immediately in accordance with Article 39, it becomes the
unconditional duty of the Supreme Court, as soon as four weeks have
elapsed, to arrange for the Storting to be summoned.

Article 47

The supervision of the education of the King during his
minority should, if both his parents are dead and neither of them
has left any written directions thereon, be determined by the
Storting.

Article 48

If the Royal Line has died out, and no successor to the Throne
has been designated, then a new Queen or King shall be chosen by
the Storting. Meanwhile, the Executive Power shall be exercised in
accordance with Article 40.

C. Rights of
citizens and the Legislative Power

Article 49

Note: amended in 2007, the amendment entered into force 1
October 2009

The people exercise the Legislative Power through the
Storting.

Article 50

Those entitled to vote in elections to the Storting are
Norwegian citizens, men and women, who, at the latest in the year
when the election is held, have completed their eighteenth
year.

The extent, however, to which Norwegian citizens who on
Election Day are resident outside the Realm but who satisfy the
aforementioned conditions are entitled to vote shall be determined
by law.

Rules may be laid down by law concerning the right to vote of
persons otherwise entitled to vote who on Election Day are
manifestly suffering from a seriously weakened mental state or a
reduced level of consciousness.

Article 51

The rules on the keeping of the electoral register and on the
registration in the register of persons entitled to vote shall be
determined by law.

Article 52

(Repealed)

Article 53

The right to vote is lost by persons:

a) sentenced for criminal offences, in accordance with the
relevant provisions laid down by law;

b) entering the service of a foreign power without the consent
of the Government.

Article 54

The polls shall be held every fourth year. They shall be
concluded by the end of September.

Article 55

The polls shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by law.
Disputes regarding the right to vote shall be settled by the poll
officials, whose decision may be appealed to the Storting.

Article 56

(Repealed)

Article 57

The number of representatives to be elected to the Storting
shall be one hundred and sixty-nine.

The Realm is divided into nineteen constituencies.

One hundred and fifty of the representatives to the Storting
are elected as representatives of constituencies and the remaining
nineteen representatives are elected as members at large.

Each constituency shall have one seat at large.

The number of representatives to the Storting to be chosen from
each constituency is determined on the basis of a calculation of
the ratio between the number of inhabitants and surface area of
each constituency and the number of inhabitants and surface area of
the entire Realm, in which each inhabitant counts as one point and
each square kilometre counts as 1.8 points. This calculation shall
be made every eighth year.

Specific provisions on the division of the Realm into
constituencies and on the allotment of seats in the Storting to the
constituencies shall be determined by law.

Article 58

The polls shall be held separately for each municipality. At the
polls votes shall be cast directly for representatives to the
Storting, together with their proxies, to represent the entire
constituency.

Article 59

The election of representatives of constituencies is based on
proportional representation and the seats are distributed among the
political parties in accordance with the following rules.

The total number of votes cast for each party within each
separate constituency is divided by 1.4, 3, 5, 7 and so on until
the number of votes cast is divided as many times as the number of
seats that the party in question may be expected to obtain. The
party which in accordance with the

foregoing obtains the largest quotient is allotted the first
seat, while the second seat is allotted to the party with the
second largest quotient, and so on until all the seats are
distributed.

List alliances are not permitted.

The seats at large are distributed among the parties taking
part in such distribution on the basis of the relation between the
total number of votes cast for the individual parties in the entire
Realm in order to achieve the highest possible degree of
proportionality among the parties. The total number of seats in the
Storting to be held by each party is determined by applying the
rules concerning the distribution of constituency seats
correspondingly to the entire Realm and to the parties taking part
in the distribution of the seats at large. The parties are then
allotted so many seats at large that these, together with the
constituency seats already allotted, correspond to the number of
seats in the Storting to which the party in question is entitled in
accordance with the foregoing. If a party has already through the
distribution of constituency seats obtained a greater number of
seats than it is entitled to in accordance with the foregoing,
a

new distribution of the seats at large shall be carried out
exclusively among the other parties, in such a way that no account
is taken of the number of votes cast for and constituency seats
obtained by the said party.

No party may be allotted a seat at large unless it has received
at least four per cent of the total number of votes cast in the
entire Realm.

Specific provisions concerning the distribution among the
constituencies of the seats at large allotted to the parties shall
be determined by law.

Article 60

Whether and in what manner those entitled to vote may deliver
their ballot papers, without personal attendance at the polls,
shall be determined by law.

Article 61

No one may be elected as a representative unless he or she is
entitled to vote.

Article 62

Officials who are employed in government ministries, except
however State Secretaries and political advisers, may not be
elected as representatives. The same applies to Members of the
Supreme Court and officials employed in the diplomatic or consular
services.

Members of the Council of State may not attend meetings of the
Storting as representatives while holding a seat in the Council of
State. Nor may State Secretaries attend as representatives while
holding their appointments, and political advisers in government
ministries may not attend meetings of the Storting as long as they
hold their positions.

Article 63

It is the duty of anyone who is elected as a representative to
accept such election, unless:

a) He is elected outside the constituency in which he is
entitled to vote.

b) He has as a representative attended all the sessions of the
Storting following the previous election.

[c) repealed]

d) He is a member of a political party and he is elected on a
list of candidates which has not been issued by that party.

Rules for the time within which and the manner in which anyone
who has the right to refuse election shall assert this right shall
be prescribed by law.

It shall similarly be prescribed by law by what date and in
which manner anyone who is elected as representative for two or
more constituencies shall state which election he will accept.

Article 64

The representatives elected shall be furnished with
credentials, the validity of which shall be adjudged by the
Storting.

Article 65

Every representative and proxy called to the Storting shall be
entitled to receive from the Treasury such reimbursement as is
prescribed by law for travelling expenses to and from the Storting,
and from the Storting to his home and back again during vacations
lasting at least fourteen days.

He shall further be entitled to remuneration, likewise
prescribed by law, for attending the Storting.

Article 66

Representatives on their way to and from the Storting, as well
as during their attendance there, shall be exempt from personal
arrest, unless they are apprehended in public crimes, nor may they
be called to account outside the meetings of the Storting for
opinions expressed there. Every representative shall be bound to
conform to the rules of procedure therein adopted.

Article 67

The representatives elected in the aforesaid manner shall
constitute the Storting of the Kingdom of Norway.

Article 68

The Storting shall as a rule assemble on the first weekday in
October every year in the capital of the Realm, unless the King, by
reason of extraordinary circumstances, such as hostile invasion or
infectious disease, designates another town in the Realm for the
purpose. Such a decision must be publicly announced in good
time.

Article 69

When the Storting is not assembled, it may be summoned by the
King if he finds it necessary.

Article 70

(Repealed)

Article 71

The members of the Storting function as such for four
successive years.

Article 72

(Repealed)

Article 73

Note: amended in 2007, the amendment entered into force 1
October 2009

The Storting nominates a President, five Vice-Presidents and
two Secretaries. The Storting may not hold a meeting unless at
least half of its Members are present. However, Bills concerning
amendments to the Constitution may not be dealt with unless at
least two thirds of the Members of the Storting are present.

Article 74

Note: amended in 2007, entered into force 1 October
2009

As soon as the Storting is constituted, the King, or whoever he
appoints for the purpose, shall open its proceedings with a speech,
in which he shall inform it of the state of the Realm and of the
issues to which he particularly desires to call the attention of
the Storting. No deliberations may take place in the presence of
the King.

When the proceedings of the Storting have been opened, the
Prime Minister and the Members of the Council of State have the
right to attend the Storting and, like its Members, although
without voting, to take part in any proceedings conducted in open
session, while in matters discussed in closed session only insofar
as permitted by the Storting.

Article 75

It devolves upon the Storting:

a) to enact and repeal laws; to impose taxes, duties, customs
and other public charges, which shall not, however, remain
operative beyond 31 December of the succeeding year, unless they
are expressly renewed by a new Storting;

b) to raise loans in the name of the Realm;

c) to supervise the economic affairs of the Realm;

d) to appropriate the moneys necessary to meet government
expenditure;

e) to decide how much shall be paid annually to the King for
the Royal Household, and to determine the Royal Family's appanage
which may not, however, consist of real property;

f) to have submitted to it the records of the Council of State,
and all public reports and documents;

g) to have communicated to it the treaties which the King, on
behalf of the State, has concluded with foreign powers;

h) to have the right to require anyone, the King and the Royal
Family excepted, to appear before it on matters of State; the
exception does not, however, apply to the Royal Princes if they
hold any public office;

i) to review the provisional lists of salaries and pensions and
to make therein such alterations as it deems necessary;

j) (repealed)

k) to appoint five auditors, who shall annually examine the
State Accounts and publish extracts of the same in print, for which
purpose the Accounts shall be submitted to the auditors within six
months of the end of the year for which the appropriations of the
Storting have been made, and to adopt provisions concerning the
procedure for authorizing the accounts of government accounting
officials;

l) to appoint a person, not a member of the Storting, in a
manner prescribed by law, to supervise the public administration
and all who work in its service, to assure that no injustice is
done against the individual citizen;

m) to naturalize aliens.

Article 76

Note: amended in 2007, the amendment entered into force 1
October 2009

Every Bill shall first be proposed in the Storting, either by
one of its own Members, or by the Government through a Member of
the Council of State.

Once the Bill is passed there, a new deliberation is to take
place in the Storting, which either approves or rejects it. In the
latter case the Bill, with the comments appended by the Storting,
shall again be taken into consideration by the Storting, which
either shelves the Bill or approves it with the said comments.

Between each such deliberation there shall be an interval of at
least three days.

Article 77

Note: amended in 2007, the amendment entered into force 1
October 2009

When a Bill has been approved by the Storting in two
consecutive meetings, it is sent to the King with a request that it
may receive the Royal Assent.

Article 78

Note: amended in 2007, the amendment entered into force 1
October 2009

If the King assents to the Bill, he appends his signature,
whereby it becomes law.

If he does not assent to it, he returns it to the Storting with
a statement that he does not for the time being find it expedient
to give his assent. In that case the Bill must not again be
submitted to the King by the Storting then assembled.

Article 79

If a Bill has been passed unaltered by two sessions of the
Storting, constituted after two separate successive elections and
separated from each other by at least two intervening sessions of
the Storting, without a divergent Bill having been passed by any
Storting in the period between the first and last adoption, and it
is then submitted to the King with a petition that His Majesty
shall not refuse his assent to a Bill which, after the most mature
deliberation, the Storting considers to be beneficial, it shall
become law even if the Royal Assent is not accorded before the
Storting goes into recess.

Article 80

The Storting shall remain in session as long as it deems it
necessary and shall terminate its proceedings when it has concluded
its business.

In accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the
Storting, the proceedings may be resumed, but they shall terminate
not later than the last Sunday in the month of September.

Within this time the King shall communicate his decision with
regard to the Bills that have not already been decided (cf.
Articles 77 to 79), by either confirming or rejecting them. All
those which he does not expressly accept are deemed to have been
rejected by him.

Article 81

All Acts (with the exception of those mentioned in Article 79)
are drawn up in the name of the King, under the seal of the Realm
of Norway, and in the following terms; «We, X, make it publicly
known: that the decision of the Storting of the date stated has
been laid before Us: (here follows the decision). In consequence
whereof We have assented to and confirmed, as We hereby do assent
to and confirm the same as Law under Our Hand and the Seal of the
Realm.»

Article 82

(Repealed)

Article 83

The Storting may obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on
points of law.

Article 84

The Storting shall meet in open session, and its proceedings
shall be published in print, except in those cases where a majority
decides to the contrary.

Article 85

Any person who obeys an order, the purpose of which is to
disturb the liberty and security of the Storting, is thereby guilty
of treason against the Country.

D. The
Judicial Power

Article 86

Note: as amended in 2007

The Court of Impeachment pronounces judgment in the first and
last instance in such proceedings as are brought by the Storting
against Members of the Council of State or of the Supreme Court or
of the Storting for criminal or other unlawful conduct in cases
where they have breached their constitutional obligations.

The specific rules concerning indictment by the Storting in
accordance with this Article shall be determined by law. However,
the limitation period for the institution of indictment proceedings
before the Court of Impeachment may not be set at less than 15
years.

The judges of the Court of Impeachment comprise six Members
elected by the Storting and the five longest-serving, permanently
appointed Members of the Supreme Court, including the President of
the Supreme Court. The Storting elects the Members and their
deputies for a period of six years. A Member of the Council of
State or of the Storting may not be elected as a Member of the
Court of Impeachment. In the Court of Impeachment the President of
the Supreme Court shall preside.

Any person sitting in the Court of Impeachment who has been
elected by the Storting shall not lose his seat in the Court if the
period for which he is elected expires before the Court of
Impeachment has concluded the proceedings in the case. Nor shall a
Justice of the Supreme Court who is a Member of the Court of
Impeachment lose his seat in the Court, even if he resigns as a
Member of the Supreme Court.

Article 87

Note: as amended in 2007

Specific provisions as to the composition of the Court of
Impeachment and its procedures shall be laid down by law.

Article 88

The Supreme Court pronounces judgment in the final instance.
Nevertheless, limitations on the right to bring a case before the
Supreme Court may be prescribed by law.

The Supreme Court shall consist of a President and at least
four other Members.

Article 89

(Repealed)

Article 90

The judgments of the Supreme Court may in no case be
appealed.

Article 91

No one may be appointed a member of the Supreme Court before
reaching 30 years of age.

E. General
provisions

Article 92

To senior official posts in the State may be appointed only
Norwegian citizens, men or women, who speak the language of the
Country, and who at the same time

a) either were born in the Realm of parents who were then
subjects of the State;

b) or were born in a foreign country of Norwegian parents who
were not at that time subjects of another State;

c) or hereafter have resided for ten years in the Realm;

d) or have been naturalized by the Storting.

Others may, however, be appointed as teachers at the university
and institutions of higher learning, as medical practitioners and
as consuls in places abroad.

Article 93

In order to safeguard international peace and security or to
promote the international rule of law and cooperation between
nations, the Storting may, by a three-fourths majority, consent
that an international organization to which Norway adheres or will
adhere shall have the right, within objectively defined fields, to
exercise powers which in accordance with this Constitution are
normally vested in the Norwegian authorities, although not the
power to alter this Constitution. For the Storting to grant such
consent, at least two thirds of the Members of the Storting shall
be present, as required for proceedings for amending the
Constitution.

The provisions of this Article do not apply in cases of
membership in an international organization, whose decisions only
have application for Norway purely under international law.

Article 94

The first, or if this is not possible, the second ordinary
Storting, shall make provision for the publication of a new general
civil and criminal code. However the currently applicable laws of
the State shall remain in force, provided they do not conflict with
this Constitution or with such provisional ordinances as may be
issued in the meantime.

The existing permanent taxes shall likewise remain operative
until the next Storting.

Article 95

No dispensations, protection from civil arrest, moratoriums or
redresses may be granted after the new general code has entered
into force.

Article 96

No one may be convicted except according to law, or be punished
except after a court judgment. Interrogation by torture must not
take place.

Article 97

No law must be given retroactive effect.

Article 98

When special fees are paid to officials of the Courts of
Justice, no further payment shall be made to the Treasury in
respect of the same matter.

Article 99

No one may be taken into custody except in the cases determined
by law and in the manner prescribed by law. For unwarranted arrest,
or illegal detention, the officer concerned is accountable to the
person imprisoned.

The Government is not entitled to employ military force against
citizens of the State, except in accordance with the forms
prescribed by law, unless any assembly disturbs the public peace
and does not immediately disperse after the Articles of the Statute
Book relating to riots have been read out clearly three times by
the civil authority.

Article 100

There shall be freedom of expression.

No person may be held liable in law for having imparted or
received information, ideas or messages unless this can be
justified in relation to the grounds for freedom of expression,
which are the seeking of truth, the promotion of democracy and the
individual's freedom to form opinions. Such legal liability shall
be prescribed by law.

Everyone shall be free to speak his mind frankly on the
administration of the State and on any other subject whatsoever.
Clearly defined limitations to this right may only be imposed when
particularly weighty considerations so justify in relation to the
grounds for freedom of expression.

Prior censorship and other preventive measures may not be
applied unless so required in order to protect children and young
persons from the harmful influence of moving pictures. Censorship
of letters may only be imposed in institutions.

Everyone has a right of access to documents of the State and
municipal administration and a right to follow the proceedings of
the courts and democratically elected bodies. Limitations to this
right may be prescribed by law to protect the privacy of the
individual or for other weighty reasons.

It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to
create conditions that facilitate open and enlightened public
discourse.

Article 101

New and permanent privileges implying restrictions on the
freedom of trade and industry must not in future be granted to
anyone.

Article 102

Search of private homes shall not be made except in criminal
cases.

Article 103

Asylum for the protection of debtors shall not be granted to
such persons as hereafter become bankrupt.

Article 104

Land and goods may in no case be made subject to
forfeiture.

Article 105

If the welfare of the State requires that any person shall
surrender his movable or immovable property for the public use, he
shall receive full compensation from the Treasury.

Article 106

The purchase money, as well as the revenues of the landed
property constituting ecclesiastical benefices, shall be applied
solely to the benefit of the clergy and to the promotion of
education. The property of charitable institutions shall be applied
solely to the benefit of the institutions themselves.

Article 107

Allodial right and the right of primogeniture shall not be
abolished. The specific conditions under which these rights shall
continue for the greatest benefit of the State and to the best
advantage of the rural population shall be determined by the first
or second subsequent Storting.

Article 108

No earldoms, baronies, entailed estates or fideicommissa may be
created in the future.

Article 109

As a general rule every citizen of the State is equally bound
to serve in the defence of the Country for a specific period,
irrespective of birth or fortune.

The application of this principle, and the restrictions to
which it shall be subject, shall be determined by law.

Article 110

It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to
create conditions enabling every person capable of work to earn a
living by his work.

Specific provisions concerning the right of employees to
co-determination at their work place shall be laid down by
law.

Article 110 a

It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to
create conditions enabling the Sami people to preserve and develop
its language, culture and way of life.

Article 110 b

Every person has a right to an environment that is conducive to
health and to natural surroundings whose productivity and diversity
are preserved. Natural resources should be made use of on the basis
of comprehensive long-term considerations whereby this right will
be safeguarded for future generations as well.

In order to safeguard their right in accordance with the
foregoing paragraph, citizens are entitled to be informed of the
state of the natural environment and of the effects of any
encroachments on nature that are planned or commenced.

The State authorities shall issue further provisions for the
implementation of these principles.

Article 110 c

It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to
respect and ensure human rights. Specific provisions for the
implementation of treaties hereof shall be determined by law.

Article 111

The form and colours of the Norwegian Flag shall be determined
by law.

Article 112

If experience shows that any part of this Constitution of the
Kingdom of Norway ought to be amended, the proposal to this effect
shall be submitted to the first, second or third Storting after a
new General Election and be publicly announced in print. But it
shall be left to the first, second or third Storting after the
following General Election to decide whether or not the proposed
amendment shall be adopted. Such amendment must never, however,
contradict the principles embodied in this Constitution, but solely
relate to modifications of particular provisions which do not alter
the spirit of the Constitution, and such amendment requires that
two thirds of the Storting agree thereto.

An amendment to the Constitution adopted in the manner
aforesaid shall be signed by the President and the Secretary of the
Storting, and shall be sent to the King for public announcement in
print, as an applicable provision of the Constitution of the
Kingdom of Norway.